When it comes to left-backs, Newcastle United have had some very good ones and, sadly, a lot who perhaps weren’t so good.

In my own time watching the black and whites, names such as Carl Serrant, John Ryan and Mark Stimson belong firmly in the latter camp.

Moving on swiftly to the good performers, the leading lights were surely Frank Clark, the solidly dependable 1960s and 70s warhorse, and Alan Kennedy the brilliant attacking full-back who went on to win a host of major honours with Liverpool.

Elsewhere, mentions must be given to Robbie Elliott, Jose Enrique, and Olivier Bernard; while Scottish hard-man Paul Sweeney had his own Gallowgate cult following; and Kenny Sansom and Stuart Pearce might have been fantastic Toon signings had they arrived a decade earlier then they eventually did!

However, since the mid-70s heyday of the swashbuckling Kennedy, surely Newcastle’s “best” left-back has been John Beresford.

John Beresford in action Newcastle United in 1995 (Image: Ben Radford/Allsport)

The Chronicle extends best wishes to Bez, who was born in Sheffield on this day in 1966, and celebrates his 49th birthday.

Having been on the books of Manchester City, before spending time at Barnsley, the highly-rated Beresford arrived at St James’ Park from Portsmouth for £650,000 after a move to Liverpool fell through.

The Scousers’ loss was United’s gain and the full-back was to give exemplary service on Tyneside for almost six years.

As Kevin Keegan began to work his mini-miracle at St James’ Park, the speedy and tenacious Beresford became an integral part of Newcastle’s finest team for decades.

As the Magpies swept all before them, clinching promotion to the Premier League in 1992-93, it became quickly clear that Bez was a cut above many of his predecessors in the number 3 shirt.

Even better was to come as United twice finished runner-ups in the top flight as they went toe-to-toe with English football’s big boys.

Years after the famous 5-0 hammering of Manchester United, Beresford told the Chronicle: “I was first to catch Philippe Albert when he scored and as we were all in a pile on the floor, we were all just laughing.

“Afterwards, it was weird. We went into town after and the place was just buzzing. And that’s what it was all about, the fans.”

He played in that other era-defining victory, over Barcelona, as United found themselves in the heady environs of the Champions’ League.

Bez memorably scored two late goals to earn a draw at Dynamo Kiev and silence 100,000 Ukranian fans.

Meanwhile, despite missing out on a full cap, the full-back was included in Graham Taylor’s and Terry Venables’ England squads.

The arrival of new boss Kenny Dalglish heralded Beresford’s departure to Southampton where a cruciate ligament ended his senior career at the age of 33.

In the years after hanging up his boots, John has been involved in media work, match day hospitality at St James’ Park, and he became a director of a shop-fitting firm.